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Limerick Choral Union and Mary Immaculate College Choral Society celebrate
150 years of Puccini with a spectacular spring concert to delight audiences
in Limerick and the mid west - Saturday 12 April
To celebrate the birth of Giacomo Puccini, the famous composer of La Boheme,
Tosca and Madame Butterfly, 150 years ago in 1858, the Limerick Choral Union
and Mary immaculate College Choral Society present a performance of his
exuberant and youthful Gloria as part of a spring concert which takes place
on Saturday 12 April in the University Concert Hall.
Part of his Messa a Quattro, completed in 1880, this work harks back to the
influence of several generations of musicians in the Puccini Family while it
also represents the early development of his own individual dramatic and
operatic style.
The first half of the concert features Rossini’s Stabat Mater
which will be performed by the Limerick Choral Union. A beautifully crafted
sacred oratorio which displays Rossini’s individualistic operatic style,
this huge work employs soprano, mezzo soprano , tenor and bass, mixed chorus
and a large orchestra. Conceived on a scale far to vast for liturgical
purposes, it expresses the wildest excesses of passion and despair.
The second part of the concert will change in tone when LCU will be joined
by Mary Immaculate College Choral Society for a performance of Puccini’s
Gloria and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia. The latter work is the forerunner
to Beethoven’s famous 9th symphony and features a minor piano concerto
with ensembles for 6 vocal soloists, a string quartet and concludes with
an exciting and explosive finale.
The soloists include, guest soprano, Regina Nathan who is internationally
renowned for enrapturing audiences throughout Europe and has performed at
Carnegie Hall and with Placido Domingo in his concert at the Point Theatre,
Dublin. Her repertoire is broad reaching and included major operatic roles
as well as classic lieder and traditional Irish song.
The other soloists feature Edel O’Brien (alto) from County Clare while
the choir is pleased to welcome back Joe Roche (tenor) from Tipperary and
Mark Ashmore (bass) from London who both gave excellent performances in
the LCU Christmas concert of Handel’s Messiah in UCH in December.
The piano concert in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia will be performed by
well known Dublin pianist Stewart O’Sullivan.
This promises to be choral treat not to be missed by music lovers in
Limerick and the mid west.
Tickets are on sale at the University Concert Hall Box Office.
Tel 061 331549 Book online at www.uch.ie.
Ticket prices €25 Concessions €20.
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